(Written by William)
I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who have been interested in figuring out what the #21050 LEGO Architecture Studio set experience is like. We have published an article before on this set (see: LEGO Architecture Studio Set Review), but when I first heard about LEGO Architecture Studio I couldn’t fully grasp what exactly to expect from it. However since I love LEGO Architecture I bought it not too long after it came out and had time to experiment with it. In this article I will hopefully be able to give you a more in-depth look at what this set is all about, and what it is like to build with it. And I would also recommend that you read the other article for getting the best understanding on this set. 🙂
➡ EXPECTATIONS FROM LEGO ARCHITECTURE STUDIO
After first hearing about the LEGO Architecture Studio set I was sort of expecting a step-by-step guide on various architectural features. I was imagining that perhaps there would be a section on columns and their various applications, or the book might cover architectural styles through the course of human history. That is far from what LEGO Architecture Studio is about. Below I will show you why…
➡ THE REALITY OF LEGO ARCHITECTURE STUDIO
This set is actually an introduction into the architectural process. It gives you an idea on how the minds of some of world’s most famous architects work. LEGO Architecture Studio is not a set full of instructions, rather it has a number of hands-on exercises to help you think like an architect. To show you what I mean by this I will give you some examples that I worked on using the first exercise in the book.
➡ LEGO ARCHITECTURE STUDIO EXERCISE – ABSTRACTION
Before showing you my two examples I should explain what is going on. The book included in the LEGO Architecture Studio set tells us that many great architects ground their designs in very basic geometric shapes. Therefore when you begin a new design it is recommended that you start with a concept or basic object that you can roughly build and get a sense of its rudimentary structure. For my examples I built a couch and a window. These basic shapes are considered an abstraction. The only characteristics that are important are the features that let you think of the original object.
The next step involves defining the shape a bit more. The book suggests that you try to define the shape multiple times and ways before settling on the one you like the most. Here are the redefined couch and window I went with.
Finally, with your redefined shape you can now imagine it as a building. This is where the included LEGO window elements and additional shapes come into play for more detailed work. Below are my buildings that I created from my redefined objects. Note how you can still see the new details that I kept or re-imagined from step to step.
➡ CONCLUSION ON LEGO ARCHITECTURE STUDIO
So this is essentially how this set works; it will discuss a concept like abstract geometric shapes that exist underneath a building’s design, and then gives you an assignment to practice the concept. The book’s example for the abstraction lesson was a bird which turned out to look like a very odd building. Needless to say it got the point across and allowed me to experiment with my own ideas.
It’s also important to note that I made the couch before the window. You may observe that the window has a bit more complex starting shape than the couch. The book does not force you to do this, but I wanted to see if the same principles would apply even if I started out with more advanced LEGO building techniques. Judging by my results they seem to do just that. So no matter what your LEGO building skill level is, you can scale the challenge of the exercise to any point you feel comfortable with.
Hopefully by running through the first example in the book you have a better understanding of what to expect from the LEGO Architecture Studio set. I would say that this set is highly geared towards those with a keen interest in architecture; students, teachers, designers, etc. Make sure that this is the case with you before committing to buying LEGO Architecture Studio, as it is this type of person who would get the most out of it. 😉
If you are interested in the #21050 LEGO Architecture Studio set, or other LEGO Architecture sets, they are available at the Online LEGO Shop as well as at Barnes & Noble Online Shop (just click on the links to get there).
So what do you think? How do you like the LEGO Architecture Studio set? What do you think of the concept? Is this a set you are planning to get? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below! 😉
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